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Stay Strong:
Simple Life Lessons for Teens,
by Terrie Williams, with
an introduction by Queen Latifah; ISBN 0-439-12971-0;
Scholastic, 2001; $15.95 US/$22.99 Canada
Non-fiction/advice
Author Terrie Williams
is a publicity agent for some of the best-known African
American actors, entertainers, and athletes in America.
In this book, her goal is convince today’s teens
that by working hard, putting trust in people who deserve
it, and maintaining a positive vision, they can be happy
and successful people.
Given the popularity of
the Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul series
(Canfield, et al., Eds.), and teens’ fascination
with celebrities, this book has a lot of potential appeal.
Summary
Williams speaks directly
to her readers, using the assuring tone of a confidante
who has made it through tough times. The chapters of
the book address attitudes that teens display today
about topics including, for example, lying, manners,
language, selfishness, and materialism. Williams’
tone is more encouraging than it is pedantic, and she
draws on stories---usually of famous African Americans---to
highlight the positive points in her advice. For example,
she begins Chapter Seven, "Getting Yours," with a look
at sportsmanship:
There are lots of ways
to win, to get what you want in this world. You
can step on everyone along the way, be ruthless
and thoughtless. You can be as smart and shrewd
as you can be. You can press forward refusing to
take no for an answer or defeat as an outcome.
But now say it with
me: Everything that goes around comes around. When
you step over or on top of people, it comes back
to you… (Stay Strong 157)
She goes on to give an
example of how New York Yankees star Dave Winfield endured
negative comments made about him by team owner George
Steinbrenner, eventually earning Steinbrenner’s
respect and his apology when Winfield retired.
What the book lacks in
artistic merit, it makes up for in the kind of no-frills
advice that will appeal to teen readers, especially
those who are willing to listen to a successful adult
who uses herself as an example of a Black woman who
has had to work hard, make good choices, and to make
a solid career and enjoyable life for herself. It is
unlikely that the book would appeal to its intended
audience if its tone were more formal. Important, too,
for the success of the book, is Williams’ tendency
to name-drop. Readers who are intrigued by Eddie Murphy,
Jackie Joyner Kersee, Tiger Woods, Johnny Cochran, will
be interested in finding short bits of information about
their lives in different parts of the book.
Touchy Areas
There are only two ways
that this book might be seen as objectionable, in my
opinion: One is that people who insist that advice for
clean, healthy, and selfless living be restricted to
books that promote a particular religious doctrine or
spiritual slant may feel that Williams’ approach
is too humanistic. The other is that some readers may
complain because Williams’ focus is African American
teens, yet that focus is not stated directly.
Williams is not a memorable
writer, in terms of literary quality, yet her advice
is sincere and her motives seem clear: to encourage
young people, particularly African Americans, to work
to achieve good lives.
Related Titles
All of the books in the
Chicken Soup for the Teenage (and Kid’s) Soul
series.
Evaluation
If I were teaching middle
or high school students, especially if my students included
African Americans, I would have this book on a shelf
in my classroom. Some teens may turn to a book like
this, even if they refuse to turn to a breathing human
being (like a teacher) for some advice or encouragement.
It is easy to read, offering short chapters on topics
that are likely to be of interest to teens, and includes
snipets of stories about celebrities—another selling
point for teen readers.
Pamela Sissi Carroll, 209
MCH, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4490
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